Premiering Sunday, October 4, at 8 (7pm Central Time) — Home Fires is a drama inspired by the true story of the Women's Institute (WI)*, a community organization that enabled women all over England to come together and rise above the challenges of World War II.

Headlined by Masterpiece Theater's favorites Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey's Aunt Rosamund) and Francesca Annis (Reckless, Cranford), the Home Fires cast also features plenty of Masterpiece alumni. Look for Claire Calbraith (flirtatious maid Jane in Season 2 of Downton Abbey), Mark Bazeley (Agnes Towler's abusive father in Mr. Selfridge), Claire Rushbrook (Pip's hot-tempered older sister in Great Expectations, and secretary-gone-rogue Karen in Collision), and Ed Stoppard (political playboy Sir Hallam Holland in 2010’s Upstairs, Downstairs), among others.

Set at the onset of WWII, Home Fires is inspired by the real organization The Women’s Institute (WI - see below), a women’s social club that is still alive and well. The series is largely based on Julie Summers book Jambusters, which details the WI's contribution to wartime food production, education, and social issues. With their husbands and sons taken by the War, women across England were suddenly faced with new responsibilities — the WI helped these women connect with each other, learn new skills, and rise above these challenges.

Series star Samantha Bond was thrilled to be part of a story that not only features a predominately female cast, but also relies on the talent of middle-aged actresses.

"When I got a phone call from my agent saying they were going to make a series about the Women's Institute based on a book called Jambusters, there was a bit of my heart that fell. I've been very vocal about the lack of parts for middle aged ladies and then I thought, 'They're going to have us make jam.' Then I read the first two scripts and I was absolutely captivated … there’s far more to the WI in this period than just jam making.”

Though World War II was a time of rations and sacrifices, there are still plenty of fashion moments in Home Fires. Star Francesca Annis was especially struck by the original, period clothing used for the series. "It’s incredible how beautiful the clothes were. Imaginative and different in detail that we don't have now. A lot of people actually made their own clothes … So you have much more of a sense of individuality and you see that in a lot of the costumes. It's also amazing to think how long they have lasted."

Home Fires not only draws the viewer into the sacrifices of wartime, but also the personal struggles faced at home. While many wartime dramas focus on urban life, Home Fires’ village setting means that viewers get a unique perspective: the close-knit intimacy of country life.

Actress Samantha Bond was struck by the visible impact of World War II on these country villages, still visible today. “We filmed at a church in one of the Cheshire villages. One side had stained glass windows and the other side had plain glass - because a bomb fell on it. When people think of bombing during the Second World War they tend to concentrate on big cities. But these small villages could also find themselves in the firing line.

*The Women's Institute comments on the series:

Beginning in the late summer of 1939, Home Fires tells the stories of the WI members of Great Paxford WI as war approaches.  The drama follows a group of inspirational women in a rural Cheshire community with the shadow of World War II casting a dark cloud over their lives. The isolated village couldn't feel further away from the impending bloodshed and battlefields and yet it is not immune from the effects of war. As the conflict takes hold, and separates the women from their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, the characters find themselves under increasing and extraordinary pressures in a rapidly fragmenting world. By banding together as the Great Paxford WI, they will help maintain the nation's fabric in its darkest hour, and discover inner resources that will change their lives forever. 

About the WI

The Women's Institute (WI) was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK. The WI will celebrate its centenary in 2015 and currently has 212,000 members in around 6,600 WIs.

The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.

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